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Angie Mc
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| Posted: Sept 23 2006 at 11:46pm | IP Logged
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Dear Friends,
Please pray for the repose of the soul of my friend, Mary Anne Lehman. She died very unexpectantly this past Thursday. My family and our parish are heart-broken.
Mary Anne was the first person to welcome our family to our parish, St. George, when we moved to AZ almost three years ago. She was a little bit of a thing, with curly gray hair and a huge smile on her face. I'm not even sure how we got to talking after that first Mass, but within moments we learned that we were both originally from PA. Within the blink of an eye, she waved to a gentleman and told him to give me his phone number so that I could call his wife because our families both homeschooled. Within days I had made my first real contact with local homeschoolers who are now our dear friends. This connection would normally have taken me months to make.
Every Sunday, Mary Anne welcomed us, and all, to St. George. Her hand was withered from arthritis but she didn't think twice about shaking your hand with it. She especially loved the children and helped them feel welcome.
When dh deployed to Indonesia, Mary Anne placed him and our family on her email prayer request chain. Every Sunday she would ask about him...about us. During that month, I felt so uplifted by prayer, I could FEEL the prayers! Later I would find out that Mary Anne prayed for us, and so many others, by name daily...sometimes spending three hours for our parish intentions.
Mary Anne cared for her ailing and frail husband, Joe. She did it all for him with a smile on her face and a joke to break any tension. Her daughter and son-in-law, also at our parish, were kept on their toes as well. If fact, we all were slackers compared with Mary Anne.
Believe it or not, I heard the news of her death via an email. I don't recommend this form of communication about something so...so...significant. I wept at my desk, told my children, we prayed, then went to the boys baseball game. Mary Anne was a huge baseball fan (way back to the Brooklyn Dodgers) and she loved to talk bball with the boys. She was so proud when Aiden made the All Star team. Aiden tried with all his might to have his first homerun for Mary Anne. That didn't materialize, but I bet she enjoyed the effort.
Mary Anne was supposed to out-live us all. Some people just seem to have so much life...so much energy...so much heart. In the end, her heart failed her. Now our family and parish have a huge hole that can't be filled. We're so sad, yet we are so much better for having known her. Her example of a welcoming, prayerful, transparent Catholic woman will continue to inspire.
Thank you for praying for Mary Anne and her family. Thanks also for letting me grieve among prayerful friends. Thank God for the Communion of Saints and the promise of eternal life.
Eternal rest grant unto Mary Anne, O Lord, and let Perpetual Light shine upon her. May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.
Love,
__________________
Angie Mc
Maimeo to Henry! Dave's wife, mom to Mrs. Devin+Michael Pope, Aiden 20,Ian 17,John Paul 11,Catherine (heaven 6/07)
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momwise
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| Posted: Sept 24 2006 at 12:26am | IP Logged
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Angie,
You must be so stunned and heartbroken. We will pray for Mary Ann's soul.
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Gwen...wife for 30 years, mom of 7, grandma of 3.....
"If you want equal justice for all and true freedom and lasting peace, then America, defend life." JPII
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stefoodie
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| Posted: Sept 24 2006 at 6:51am | IP Logged
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So sorry to hear about your loss, Angie. We will pray for the repose of Mary Anne's soul, and for her family and yours.
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stef
mom to five
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Rebecca
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Oh Angie, I am so sorry.
Mary Anne sounds like an amazing woman! I will be praying for her, for you, for your family and for your parish. Hugs and prayers from Cleveland.
Love,
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KC in TX
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You wrote such a moving piece about your friend. Prayers for you all.
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KC,
wife to Ben (10/94),
Mama to LB ('98)
Michaela ('01)
Emma ('03)
Jordan ('05)
And, my 2 angels, Rose ('08) and Mark ('09)
The Cabbage Patch
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Cay Gibson
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Mary Annes sounds like a wonderful soul...one that is rare to meet but worth the wait.
Her family and all of you are in our prayers today.
__________________
Cay Gibson
"There are 49 states, then there is Louisiana." ~ Chef Emeril
wife to Mark '86
mom to 5
Cajun Cottage Under the Oaks
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guitarnan
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Praying for you and for Mary Anne and her family. She sounds like the spiritual sister of my recently departed friend, Mary.
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Nancy in MD. Mom of ds (24) & dd (18); 31-year Navy wife, move coordinator and keeper of home fires. Writer and dance mom.
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MarieA
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She, her family and you all are in my prayers. You wrote a lovely tribute for her.
Marie
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KellyJ
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May God grant eternal life to your dear friend Mary Anne.
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KellyJ
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ladybugs
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Prayers for you, your family and lovely Mary Anne.
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Love and God Bless,
Maria P
My etsy store - all proceeds go to help my fencing daughters!
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Patty LeVasseur
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Mary Anne sounds like an inspiration to us all. We will pray for her and for your family.
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Patty
mom to four blessings
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Leonie
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What an inspiration - you must be honoured to have known Mary Anne.I will say a prayer for her soul.
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Leonie in Sydney
Living Without School
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Nina Murphy
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Will pray for her soul, her loved ones, and for you, Angie at your loss.
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God bless,
~~Nina
mother of 9 on earth,
and 2 yet-to-be-met
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4Real Forums : We Pray to the Lord
Topic: Rest in Peace Mary Anne
